Author Question: A pulse oximeter on a patient with a tracheostomy shows 89 saturation. The patient has a heated ... (Read 68 times)

amal · **on:** Jul 16, 2018

A pulse oximeter on a patient with a tracheostomy shows 89 saturation. The patient has a heated humidifier with a 40 air-entrainment tracheostomy collar.

A rapid assessment shows no secretion production and equal breath sounds. Which of the fol-lowing is the most appropriate first step?
a. Increase the oxygen delivered through the flowmeter.
b. Increase the air-entrainment device to 60.
c. Apply positive pressure with bag-valve ventilation.
d. Check to see whether water is collected in the gas-delivery tube.

Question 2

Which of the following statements about the isothermic saturation boundary is true?

a. Exercise causes the isothermic saturation boundary to shift higher in the trachea.
b. At 2 cm above the carina, inhaled gas reaches BTPS.
c. Inhalation through the mouth shifts the isothermic saturation boundary down-ward.
d. Below the isothermic saturation boundary, temperature and relative humidity are var-iables.

javimendoza7 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 16, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
The condensation collected in the gas-delivery tube must be removed because it becomes an ob-struction that disrupts gas and humidity delivery to the patient. The other choices disregard the simplest step, which should be taken first.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
At the isothermic saturation boundary inhaled gas reaches BTPS, which is below the carina. The temperature and relative humidity are constant after that point. Because exercise causes an in-crease in the volume, rate, and type of breathing (i.e., breathing through the mouth), the isother-mic saturation boundary would shift downward.